THE LINK BETWEEN STRESS AND CANCER

Chronic stress results in a suppression of the immune system, which in turn creates increased susceptibility to illness—and especially to cancer.

Emotional stress, which suppresses the immune system, also leads to hormonal imbalances. These imbalances could increase the production of abnormal cells at precisely the time the body is least capable of destroying them.

It is significant that the amount of emotional stress caused by external events depends on how the individual interprets or copes with that event. Even though researchers are able to predict illness based on the number of stressful events in people's lives, a number of individuals in these studies did not get sick, even though they experienced high levels of stress. Once again, it is necessary to look at the individual's unique response to a stressful event.

Everyone has learned some ways of coping with stress that either reduce its emotional impact or decrease its effects on the body. Thus, the next step is to understand what kinds of coping reactions play a role in making people susceptible to cancer.